Carpet-cleaning machine



J. F; STALLSMITH.

CARPET CLEANING MACHINE.

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1. F. STALLSMITH.

CARPET CLEANING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, I9Ia.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

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W1 NESS JIL/IM A TTORNEY.

Il. F. STALLSVHTH.

CARPET CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5. 1918.

1,396,977. Patented Novn 15, 1921.

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ATTORNEY.

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J. F. STALLSNHTH.

CARPET CLEANING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MMM. 191s.

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1. F. STALLSAAHH.

CARPET CLEANING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5,19I8.

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muted Nov. 15,` 1921.

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WI TNESS I. F. STALLSMITH.

CARPET CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1.918.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 6.

INVENTOR.'

A TTORNEY.

1 F STALLSMITH CARPET CLEANING MACHINE.

.APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5.19I8. 1 ,396,977n Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

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JSEPH F. STALLSMITH, 0F KANSAS CITY, IMISSOUR, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HARVEY P. UTZ, OF KANSAS CITY, MSSOURI.

CARPET-CLEANING MACHIN E.

Application filed March 5, 1918.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH F. S'rALLsMrTI-i, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpet-Cleaning Machines, of which the following isy a specification. Y

My invention relates to a machine for cleaning carpets and rugs, and my objects generally are to provide a machine of this character whereby carpets and rugs may be efficiently and expeditiously beaten, scrubbed, and dried. Y

Other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and in order that said invention may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine, with some of the parts in section and other parts removed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation with some of the parts removed, showing the opposite side of the machine from that disclosed by Figpl.

Fig. 3 is a broken, front elevation of the machine, with some of the parts in section and others removed.

Fig. 4 is a broken plan view of the forward portion of the machine with some of the parts in section and others removed.

Fig. 5 is a broken plan view partly insection, showing the beater and adjacent parts.

Fig. 6 is a broken, front elevation of certain parts disclosed by Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section on line VH-VH of Fig. 6. f

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, broken, vertical section of a receptacle for holding soapy orv detergent water, valves for controlling the flow of water from said receptacle, anda drum for opening the lower valve.

Fig. 9 is a broken, irregular, sectional view of parts disclosed by Fig. 8, with the drum removed.

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view of a scrub brush and associated parts.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view, enlarged, of the scrub brush.

Fig. 12 is a broken plan view of a portion of a carpet attached to a conveyer for conducting said carpet through the machine.

Fig. 13 is an irregular, horizontal, sectional view on line XIII- X111 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a front elevation of one of a plu Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nev. 15,1921.

Serial No. 220,447.

rality of hooks for securing the `carpet to the conveyer.

Fig. 15 is a detail of two hooks connected with a strap to bridge a hole or torn place in a carpet.

Fig. 16 shows an arrangement of hooks for attaching the ends 'of two carpets together when the same are to be cleaned in one operation.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary, perspective view of a squeegee and associated parts.

Fig. 18 is a broken, vertical section of a drum, its bearing, and the support for said bearing.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary rear elevation of a beater.

Fig. 2O is a cross section on line XX of Fig. 19. Y

In carrying out the invention, l employ a suitable frame embodying upright members 1, inclined members 2, and horizontal members 3, 4 and 5, which latter are supported above the Hoor on beams 7. The rear portion of said frame is provided with a shelf 9 upon which the carpet, A, kt0 be cleaned is placed in a roll held in position by horizontal members 10 and 12, extending longitudinally of said shelf.y

The free end of the carpet roll is attached to a plurality of hooks 14 secured to one end of a conveyer'16, which extends through a beater housing 18, thence beneath discharge nozzles 20, between a drum 22 and reciprocatory scrub brushes 24 and 25, between said drum 22 and a rotary brush 27, between a roller 28 and a squeegee 29, thence over a steam or other drying coil 31, and is secured at its opposite end to a feed roller 32. The drum 22 has peripheral pins 22EL for engage ment with the carpet.

Arranged within the beater housing 18 is a screen 33, secured at one of its longitudinal margins tov the rear side of said housing and secured at its opposite longitudinal margin to a tension bar 35, connected to a plurality yof coil springs 36,. extending down through an anchor bar 38 and provided at their threaded ends with nuts 40, whereby the pull of said springs upon the bar 35 may be regulated. Through the intermediacy of said springs 36, the screen 33, which passes over a roller 41, is held taut.

As the carpet is drawn over the screen 33 by the conveyer 16, the dust is knocked out by a beater consisting of a plurality of rods 43, and bars 45 to which said rods 43 are fixed. The bars 45 are loosely connected by members 42 to a rock-shaft 46, journaled in bearings 47 secured to two of the vertical frame members 1 at the ends ofthe beater housing 18. The beater rods 43 are arranged at an angle to the travel of the carpet, as disclosed by Fig. 5, so that the entire upper surface of said carpet will be beaten as it' travels over the screen 33, and the free ends of said beater rods 43 are curled upwardly to prevent them from catching in or otherwise damaging the carpet.

The bars 45 are provided with pivotal latches 44, adapted to be forced by the carpet into recesses 4 8 in the rock shaft 46, and thus lock the respective bars 45 to said shaft 46 to rock therewith. This arrangement insures the operation of those beater rods 43 beneath which the carpet travels, but permits the remaining beater rods to remain idle, so that they will not uselessly wear out or damage the screen 33. When the latches 44 are pushed upwardly into the recesses 48 by the carpet, said latches are automatically secured in such position by springs 49, which spring down behind the pivoted'terminals 44@ of the latches. A cable 49EL is connected to the upper ends of the springs 49,'to raise the saine out of engagement with the terA minals 44a, so that the latches 44 may drop out 0f engagement with the rock shaft 46.

As the dust is beaten from the carpet it is drawn through the housing 18 and expelled through a stack 50 by means of a fan or blower 51, mounted within the housing 18 upon a shaft 52, journaled in bearings 53 and provided with a small pulley 54 driven by an endless belt 55, which in turn is driven by a large pulley 57 mounted upon a drive shaft 58, journaled in bearings 59 and provided with tight and loose pulleys 60 and 61, respectively, adapted to be driven by an endless belt 62 running to a source of power, not shown.

One end of the rock shaft 46 is providedV by a pinion 72 fixed upon the shaft 52.

As more clearly disclosed by Fig. 7, the beater housing 18 has a longitudinal opening 74 at one side for the entrance of the carpet and to allow the beater 43 to oscillate, and an opening 75 at its opposite side for the exit of the carpet and to receive the roller 41. Said openings 74 and 75 also admit air, so that a current through the beater housing 18 may be established by the fan 51, to exhaust the dust from said housing and force it out through the stack 50.

The discharge nozzles 20 are spaced short distances apart as disclosed by Figs. 3 and 9, to distributesoapy or detergent water casing 7 8 having a seat 79 to receive a ball valve 80, provided with a stem 82 extending downwardly through the nozzle 20 and loosely through the free end of a lever 83, operably-connected by a pivot 84 to a bracket 85 secured to the bottom of the receptacle 95. The levers 83 are provided with depending fingers 86 adapted to rest either upon the carpet A, or in peripheral grooves 88 in the drum 22.

The upper ends of the valve casings 7 8 are covered b a channel bar 90 having" ports 91 communicating with said valve casings and adapted to be opened and closed by a slide valve 92. having ports 93 which communicate with the ports 91 when said slide valve 92 is adjusted to open position. The valve casings 7 8 and the channel bar 90 are secured by bolts 94 to the bottom of the receptacle 95, which extends across the top of the machine.

The slide valve 92 may be adjusted to open and closed positions by any suitable means. For this purpose 1 have disclosed a stem 97 threaded into a nut 98. fixed to one end of said slide valve 92. extends outwardly through one end of the receptacle and a stuffing box 99 fixed to said end. A collar 100, rotatably arranged within the stuiiing box and fixed to the stem 97, prevents the same from moving longitudinally when rotated by a hand wheel. l101 fixed to the outer end of said stem. 1n order to prevent leakage between the channel bar 90 and the slide valve 92, the latter is pressed downwardly upon the former by springs 103, spaced at intervals along the top of said slide valve and held in place by bolts 105, extending through the bottom ofthe receptacle 95 and a reinforcing strip 107 secured to the bottom of said receptacle.

As disclosed by Figs. 1 and 2, the brushes 25 are arranged beneath the nozzles 20, and the brushes 24 are disposed beneath said brushes 25. The backs of the brushes 24 are placed end to end in a channel bar 109 fixed to 'a carirer 110, reciprocably mountedin the inclined members 2 of the machine frame. Each brush back is provided with a pair of threaded stems 112 extending loosely through the channel bar 109 and the carrier 110, (Fig. 10) and provided with nuts 113 whereby the brushes may be adjusted into proper relation with the face of the drum 22 where they are yieldably held by spiral springs 115, one of which encircles each stem 112 and is interposed between a brush back and the channel bar 109. The brushes 25 are arranged in a channel bar 119, supported by a carrier 120 reciprocably mounted in the frame members 2, and as the an rangement of said brushes 25 is similar to 'The stem 97 that of the brushes 24, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Angular abutments 121 fixed to the channel bars 109 and 119, and abutting the endmost brushes in said channel bars relieve the stems 112 of lateral stress when said brushes are in operation. j

Reciprocatory motion is impartedto the carrier 110 by a link 125, (Figs. 3 and 4) actuated by a crank 126 xedly-mounted upon a short shaft 127, journaled in bearings 129 and driven by a fixedly-mounted bevel gear 130, which in turn is driven by a pinion 131 fixed to one end of the shaft 58. As the carrier 110 travels to and fro it imparts a reciprocatory motion to the carrier 120, through the intermediacy of a rack 133, a pinion 134, and a rack 135. The racks 133 and 135 are connected to the carriers 110 and 120, through the intermediacy of brackets 136 and 137, respectively, while the pinion 134 is mounted upon a bracket 138, secured to the adjacent frame member 2 and provided with rollers 139, which bear againstthe backs of theracks 133 and 135 and retain the same in mesh with the pinion 134. a

The rotary brush 27 is mounted upon a shaft 140 journaled in bearings 142, adjustably-mounted in parallel members 143 secured to the ends of the machine frame. Said rotary brush 27 is adjusted toward the face of the drum 22 by set screws 145 abutting the bearings 142 and threaded in brackets 147 secured to the frame members 2. The shaft 140 is provided at one end with a large iixedly-mounted sprocket wheel 150. driven by a sprocket chain 151 driven by a small sprocket Wheel 152 fixed upon the drive shaft 58.

The roller 28 is ournaled in bea-rings 160, fixed to the lower members 5 of the machine frame, and the squeegee 29, which coacts with said roller 28, is carried by spring arms 161 fixed at their upper ends to a rock shaft 163, journaled in bearings 164, and controlled by a bell-crank-lever 165. The bellcrank-lever 165 is secured to the rock-shaft 163 adjacent to one end thereof, said rockshaft 163 being provided adjacent its opposite end with a fixed crank member 167, corresponding to the crankmember 168 of the bell-crank-lever 165.

The crank members 167 and 168 are pivotally-connected at their free ends to wedge members 170 and 171, each of which extends upwardly between antifriction rollers 173 and 174, mounted on a frame member 4 and a bearing 176, respectively. The bearings 176 are slidably-mounted upon the frame members 4 and carry the drum shaft 178. A pair of coil springs 180 attached at one end to the machine frame and at their opposite ends to the bearings 176, tend to draw the latter backwardly and hold the drum 22 rotary brush 27, to intercept the soapy or detergent water thrown from said brush and guide it into the catch basin 188.

'.lhefeed roller 32 is provided with peripheral pins 200 to engage the carpet and is journaled in brackets 201 fixed to the rear sides of the beams 7. The brackets 201 have vertical slots 202 to receive coil springs 203, which press down upon two bearings 204- and hold a presser roll 205, journaled in `said bearings 204, yieldably upon the feed roller 32, Said feed roller32 is driven by a fixedly-mounted worm wheel 206, intermeshing with a worm 207 fixed upon a shaft 208, provided with a pulley 209, driven with a belt 210, which in turn is driven by a pulley 211 iixed upon the shaft 127. The worm gears 206 and 207 operate in the lubricant chamber 214 of a journal box 215, and the worm wheel 206 has a clutch member 217 for engagement with .a clutch member 218 having the usual groove and feather connection with the feed roller 32. A lever 219 is operably connected to the clutch member 218, to throw the same in and out of engagement with the clutch member 217, for the purpose of starting and stopping the feed roller 32.

rlhe conveyer 16 embodies a pilot bar 221 105 andflexible straps 223, which latter are attached at their ends to said pilot bar 221 and the feed roller 32.

rlhe hooks 14 for enga-ging the free end of the carpet are connected by loops 220 to the pilot bar 221. Said pilot bar 221 has a beveled forward edge 222, so that it may pass freely between the drum 22 and the parts bearing against the same and also between the roller 28 and the squeegee 29. 115

The hooks 14 are spaced at intervals along the pilot bar 221 and each hook is made of spring wire and provided with downwardly and outwardly extending terminals 224, adapted to enter the carpet and securelyv 120 hold the same. The oppositely-disposed prongs 225 of each hook 14, diverge forwardly toward the terminals 224, hence when said prongs are pressed toward each other and the terminals 224 are forced into the carpet they are reliably held therein by the pressure exerted through the prongs 225, which tend to spring' apart to their normal position.

The operation brieiiy stated, is as follows:

The roll of carpet A is placed upon the shelf 9 and its free edge is secured to the hooks 14. The drive belt G2 is then shifted to the tight pulley 60,7which sets the moving parts of the machine in operation and causes the feed 'roller 32 to wind the conveyer 16 thereon and draw the carpet through the machine. As the carpet passes through the beater housing 18, the dust is knocked out by the beater 43, which in connection with the screen 83 vibra-tes and bends the carpet sufficiently to loosen any dirt which may be embedded in the carpet; after which saidy carpet passes between the drum 22 and the valve levers S3. -When this occurs the carpet lifts said valve levers 83 from the drum grooves 88 and thus opens the ball valves 80, the slide valve 92 having been previously adjusted to open position. Opening of the valves 80 allows the soapy or detergent water in the receptacle 95, to discharge upon the carpet and the brushes 24 and 25, which pass baclr and forth over the carpet and thoroughly scrub the same in its passage down to the rotary brush 27, which removes a large portion of the suds and restores the nap of the carpet to normal condition. After passing between the rotary brush 27, and the drum 22, the

carpet is dra-wnbetween the roller 28 and the squeegee 29, which express practically all of the water and suds remaining in the carpet after the same passes the rotary brush 27. Then as the carpet pursues its course to the feed roller 32 upon which it is wound, it is thoroughly dried and sterilized as it passes over the drying coil 31. 'After the carpet has been wound upon the feed roll 32, it may be readily removed after `throwing out the clutch member 218. When a number of carpets are to be cleaned. at one operation, delay occasioned by winding them upon the feed roller 82 is overcome by detaehing the initial carpet from the hooks 14, after the forward edge of said carpet has passed between the rollers 32 and 205. rl`hus the initial carpet is free to pass between said rollers 32 and 205 without being` wound upon the feed roller 32. Just before the rear end of the initial earpet passes into the beater housing 18, it is secured by the hooks disclosed by Fig. 16, to the forward end of the second carpet which has in the meantime been placed in position upon the shelf 9. Thus any number of carpets may be attached together and run through the machine in one operation. As the rear end of each carpet passes the rollers 32 and 205, it may be unhooled from the free end of the succeeding` carpet to avoid the inconvenience which would arise from handling a long line of cleaned carpets hooked together.

lhreading of the conveyer between the drum 22, the valve levers 83, and the brushes 24, 25 and 27, is rendered comparatively easy by lowering the wedge members 171 and allowing said drum 22 to be drawn lraclnvardlyv by the springs 180, after which the drum isforced against the coacting members aforementioned, by actuating thebellcrank lever 165 to force the wedge members 171 upwardly between the rollers 173 and 17e, as ldisclosed by Figs. 1 and 2. As the carpet travels around the drum the same is rotated by said carpet. l-laving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Fatent, is: i

1. ln a cleaning machine of the character described, a conveyer, means for attaching a carpet to said conveyer, a drum around which the carpet is drawn by the conveyer, receptacle arranged above said drum `to Vliold a washing fluid, valves to admit the washing fluid from the receptacle to the carpet, two sets of brushes for acting on the carpet, mechanism for moving one set of brushes to and fro, a rack actuated by the last-mentioned set of brushes, a pinion actuated by said raclr, and a rack actuated by said pinion and connected to the other set of brushes to actuate the same.

2. ln a cleaning machine of the character described, means for conveying a carpet through said machine, a drumhaving a plurality of peripheral grooves and around which the carpet travels, a receptacle arranged above said drum to hold a washing il'uid, self-closing valvesprovided with nozzles and arranged at the lower portion of the receptacle to discharge the fluid therefrom upon the carpet, and levers adapted'to be lift Ad by the carpet and open said valves, or

drop into theh drum grooves and assist in closing the valves. 'I

23. ln a Ileaning machine of the character described, Vmeans for `conveying a carpet through saidmacliine, drum around which the carpet travels, movable brushes for acting on the carpet while the same is traveling around said drum, springs to move the ldrum away from said brushes, and means to secure the drum against the action of said springs.

l. ln a cleaning machine of the character described, means for conveying a carpet through said machine, a lrum around which the carpet travels, slidable bearings in which said drum is journaled, a movable brush for acting on said carpet while the same is traveling around said drum, wedge members engaging elements on the machine frame and the drum bearings to slide the latter toward the brush, a crank'pivotally-connected to one of said wedge members, a bell-crank lever pivotally-connected to the other wedge member, and a rock-shaft upon which said crank and the bell-crank lever are fixed.

6. In a cleaning machine of the character described, means for conveying a carpet through said machine, a drum around which the carpet travels, reciprocatory brushes for acting on the carpet while the same is traveling around said drum, resilient means to press said brushes against th'e carpet, and means to move the drum away from said brushes.

7. In a cleaning machine of the character described, a conveyer for conducting a carpet through the machine, a drum around which the carpet travels, a receptacle arranged above said drum to hold a washing Huid, valves operated by the carpet to discharge the washing fluid from the receptacle, a movable brush for acting on the carpet, a squeegee to express the washing fluid from the carpet, resilient arms carrying said squeegee, a rock-shaft to which said arms are secured, and means for actuating said rock-shaft to throw the squeegee in and out of engagement with the carpet.

8. In a cleaning machine of the character described, a plurality of brushes, threaded stems projecting rearwardly from said brushes, a channel bar in which said brushes are freely mounted and through which the stems loosely extend, springs interposed between the backs of the brushes and the channel bar, and nuts threaded on the stems, and means for imparting longitudinal reciprocatory motion to said channel bar.

9. In a machine of the character described, rods for beating a carpet, a plurality of bars carrying said rods, a rock shaft to which said bars are loosely connected, and means actuated by the carpet for locking the bars to said rock shaft.

10. ln a machine of the character described, rods for beating a carpet, a plurality of bars carrying said rods, a rock shaft to which said bars are loosely connected, and latches actuated by the carpet for locking the bars to the said rock shaft.

11. In a machine of the character described, rods for beating a carpet, a plurality of bars carrying said rods, a rock shaft to which said bars are loosely connected,

latches actuated by the carpet for locking the bars to the said rock shaft, spring means for securing said latches in operative position, and means tc simultaneously disengage said spring means from the latches.

l2. ln a machine of the character described, a conveyer, means for attaching rugs to said conveyer, rods for beating the rugs, a plurality of independent members carrying said rods, a rock-shaft upon which said members are loosely mounted, and a device carried by each member and adapted to be actuated by a rug and lock its respective member to the rock-shaft.

13. ln a machine of the character described, rods for beating a carpet, a plurality of bars carrying said rods, a rock-shaft to which said bars are loosely connected, latches actuated by the carpet for locking the bars to the said rock shaft, means for securing said latches in operative position, and a cable attached to said means torlisengage the same from the latches.

la. ln a cleaning machine of the character described, a drum having a plurality of peripheral grooves and over which carpets to be cleaned travel, a receptacle adjacent said drum to hold a washing fluid, valves at the lower portion of said receptacle to discharge the fluid upon the carpets, and elements to be actuated by the carpets and open said valves, or move into the drum grooves and close the valves.

15.- ln a carpet cleaning machine, two sets of brushes to act on the carpets, a link for driving one set of brushes, a crank for actuating said link, gearing for driving said crank, and means actuated by the driven set of brushes for imparting motion to the companion set.

16. ln a carpet cleaning machine, a drum around which the carpets travel, a brush for acting on the carpets, wedge members to move the drum toward the brush, and rockable means for actuating said wedge members.

17. ln a carpet cleaning machine, a drum around which the carpets travel, a brush for acting on the carpets, wedge members to move the drum toward the brush, rockable means for actuating said wedge members, and a squeegee which is thrown in and out of engagement with the carpets by said rockable means.

18. In a carpet cleaning` machine, a drum around which the carpets travel, a brush for acting on the carpets, wedge members to move the drum toward the brush, rockable means for actuating said wedge members, a squeegee which is thrown in and out of engagement with the carpets by said rockable means, and a roller against which the carpets are pressed by said squeegee.`

ln testimony whereof l aiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH F. STALLSMTH.

Witnesses:

' F. G. FISCHER, L. J. FISCHER. 

